Cystoscopy sheet

ABSTRACT

A cystoscopy sheet having a slitted area spaced from the fenestration in a position to permit drainage of liquid through the slits while solids are deposited on the surface of the sheet for removal and examination.

United States Patent 1191 Ericson CYSTOSCOPY SHEET [75] Inventor: Richard E. Ericson, Nashua, NH, [73] Assignee: C. R. Bard, Inc., Murray Hill, NJ.

[22] Filed: June 7, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 260,680

[52] US. Cl 128/132 D [51] Int. Cl. A6lf 13/00 [58] Field of Search 128/132 D, 132 R, 112,

[56] 1 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,399,672 9/1968 Crowe 128/156 Mar. 19, 1974 2.907.405 10/1959 Marshall 55 309 3,677,266 7/1972 Green 128/132 D 3,668,050 6/1972 Donnelly 128/132 D Primary Examiner-Richard A. Gaudet Assistant Examiner-Henry J. Recla Attorney, Agent, or Firm--Chester E. Martine, Jr., Esquire [57] ABSTRACT A cystoscopy sheet having a slitted area spaced from I the fenestration in a position to permit drainage of liquid through the slits while solids are deposited on the surface of the sheet for removal and examination.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEB MAR 19 3974 FIG FIG.2

FIG.3

CYSTOSCOPY SHEET In the course of a cystoscopic examination there is normally a flow of liquid from the urinary tract past the cystoscope, across part of the cysto drape or sheet and into waste system of the examining table. Particles of solid matter which may be entrained in the liquid flow have heretofore been carried along into the waste receptacle, requiring a separate recovery step if such particles are to be examined and analyzed, as is frequently desirable. Alternatively, a separate or separable mesh net may be provided over a drainage opening to filter out solid matter, this feature adding substantially to the cost of the sheet.

According to the present invention, the sheet is provided with an area, spaced from the fenestration, of slits through which the liquid can flow readily into the waste pan or other receptacle, leaving solid materials deposited on the surface of the sheet in a position to be picked up and examined.

A practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 represents a plan view of the cystoscopy sheet;

FIG. 2 represents a perspective viewshowing approximately how the sheet is used, and

FIG. 3 represents a detail side elevation indicating the position of the sheet on the patient, in use.

Referring to the drawings, the sheet is rectangular and approximately 6 feet X 2 feet, suitably made of non-woven material which may be a lamination of two layers, the layer 11 being liquid impermeable (e.g., a poly laminate) to prevent liquid strike-through and the surface layer 12 being an absorbent tissue which minimizes run off and splashing during the cystoscopy pro cedures.

The fenestration 13 is spaced from the head end of the sheet by about one-third of its length and a drainage area 14 is spaced about the same distance from the other end. The imperforate area 15 between the fenestration and the drainage area is long enough to permit a fold of the sheet material to be tucked under the buttocks of the patient, thus bringing the drainage area to a position adjacent the edge of the examination table T and over a waste receptacle R. The drainage area 14 also normally constitutes the bottom of a valley between loose marginal folds of the sheet material, so that liquid draining onto the sheet between the fenestration l3 and area 14 will tend to flow by gravity across said area and will more or less completely pass through the drainage slits 16. These slits are shown as being in the form of rather flat arcs arranged in lines and rows with alternate arcs in each line facing oppositely. Each slit is cut through both layers of the sheet (if it is laminated) and each may be about one inch long with the spacing between rows being about one-fourth inch. The curvature of the slits enables them to open slightly as the sheet is bent, so that very efficient drainage of the liquid results. At the same time the flow of liquid adjacent to each slit decreases so markedly that solid matter is deposited on the surface of the sheet and can readily be removed for examination.

The fenestration l3 and slits 16 can be die cut in a continuous operation which makes it possible to manufacture such sheets very rapidly, simply and inexpensively. The sheet is normally fan-f elded from the ends toward the center, as by six almost equally spaced folds and then has each side folded singly over the center. When a sheet thus folded is put to use, the unfolding steps (in reverse order of the folding) present an upper sterile surface, as desired, the fenestrated portion being located first at the proper position, the sheet being first opened sideways above the patients thighs, upward over the abdomen and then downward between the legs as a bight formed by the portion is tucked securely under the buttocks to bring the drainage area over the waste receptacle R, which may be a drawer or equivalent device, as illustrated somewhat diagrammatically in FIG. 3.

It will be understood that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and hence .l do not intend to be limited to the details shown or described herein except as the same are included in the claims or may be required by disclosures of the prior art.

What I claim is:

l. A protective drape for separating solid specimens from liquids collected during urinary procedures, consisting of a rectangular impermeable sheet of flexible material having a fenestration centered approximately on the longitudinal axis of the sheet and spaced adajcent one end thereof, said fenestration being sufficiently large to enable said liquid and solid specimens to flow from a patient on one side of the sheet through said fenestration and onto the other side of the sheet, said sheet having a drainage and collection area centered approximately on the longitudinal axis of the sheet and spaced adajcent the opposite end thereof, the drainage and collection area being constituted by a plurality of spaced slits, each of said slits being formed by cutting without removal of material and lying transversely of the length of the sheet for permitting said liquid to flow therethrough, the space between pairs of said slits being effective to collect said solid specimens.

2. A protective drape according to claim 1 wherein the sheet includes a lower liquid impermeable layer and an upper somewhat absorbent layer, said upper layer being effective to decrease the flow of liquid adjacent the slits to assist in said collection of said solid specimens.

3. A protective drape according to claim 1 wherein the distance between the fenestration and the drainage and collection area is sufficient to permit a bight of the material to be inserted under the patient when the drainage and collection area is located over a waste receptacle.

4. A protective drape according to claim 1 wherein at least some of the slits are curved.

5. A protective drape according to claim 4 wherein said slits are in rows extending transversely of the length of said sheet and alternate slits in each row face oppositely. 

1. A protective drape for separating solid specimens from liquids collected during urinary procedures, consisting of a rectangular impermeable sheet of flexible material having a fenestration centered approximately on the longitudinal axis of the sheet and spaced adajcent one end thereof, said fenestration being sufficiently large to enable said liquid and solid specimens to flow from a patient on one side of the sheet through said fenestration and onto the other side of the sheet, said sheet having a drainage and collection area centered approximately on the longitudinal axis of the sheet and spaced adajcent the opposite end thereof, the drainage and collection area being constituted by a plurality of spaced slits, each of said slits being formed by cutting without removal of material and lying transversely of the length of the sheet for permitting said liquid to flow therethrough, the space between pairs of said slits being effective to collect said solid specimens.
 2. A protective drape according to claim 1 wherein the sheet includes a lower liquid impermeable layer and an upper somewhat absorbent layer, said upper layer being effective to decrease the flow of liquid adjacent the slits to assist in said collection of said solid specimens.
 3. A protective drape according to claim 1 wherein the distance between the fenestration and the drainage and collection area is sufficient to permit a bight of the material to be inserted under the patient when the drainage and collection area is located over a waste receptacle.
 4. A protective drape according to claim 1 wherein at least some of the slits are curved.
 5. A protective drape according to claim 4 wherein said slits are in rows extending transversely of the length of said sheet and alternate slits in each row face oppositely. 